Amanda, hated to hear about your anxiety in public. Many army veterans have begun to utilize pet therapy to calm their private and public anxieties. The dog is trained by professionals to sense human anxiety. When the dog senses shortness of breath or trepidation/fear, it responds with reassuring comfort. The dogs are trained to take the lead when their, human companion is too scared to go around the next corner. This comforting bond allows the anxious person to transfer their fears and security to a trusted companion. This is a form of therapy that you might look into!